Asian Americans Shared Superstitions They Follow, And Wow, I Won't Be Giving Shoes As Gifts
It's October, otherwise known as #SpookySzn, and I, like most people, am excited about all the things that fall and Halloween bring.
Halloween has been a long time coming, and people have been enthusiastic for a few months already. It feels like the second you start seeing Spirit Halloween stores pop up, it's time to start thinking about costumes, decorations, and candy choices.
me when spirit Halloween opens up
This got me thinking: What would be a fun way to get people even more into the spooky spirit?
What is something that can bring us together and also teach us more about different cultures? Superstitions.
So I reached out to our community on A*Pop, BuzzFeed's AAPI identity brand, to ask about cultural superstitions they know and possibly follow.
THIS MONTH ON A*POP: It's spooky szn! What are some cultural superstitions that you know about and possibly follow? What are your favs or ones that scare you the most? Let us know! Comment in the thread or tweet at @jessicakuma_ to be featured in an article on site✍️
Starting off the conversation, I shared a superstition that I've followed my entire life, courtesy of my Filipino mother (Hi, Mom!):
@apopbf when you gift a purse or wallet to someone, you put any amount of money in it (whether it be as little as $0.25 or like $50). the belief is that it will bring good fortune/financial success to the recipient of the gift!
Here are some of the responses we received:
1.Sleeping With the Fan On
@apopbf @jessicakuma_ don't sleep with the fan on 😩
2.Chopsticks Sticking Straight Up in Your Food
"OMG, chopsticks cannot be stuck straight up in your food! I don't want to attract dead spirits to my home. 😭😭😭"
Having chopsticks sticking straight up in your food is seen as a taboo in Chinese culture because it reminds people of incense used at funerals.
3.Stepping Over People
"You can't step over people or they'll stop growing and be short forever. If you do, you have to step back over them in the opposite direction."
4.Turning Your Plate
@apopbf @BuzzFeedDaebak @jessicakuma_ In the Philippines, may believe that it's important to turn your plate when someone leaves in the middle of a meal to have a smooth-sailing travel/drive.
5.Deceased Relatives With Butterflies and Dreams
Anna Salmi / Via giphy.com
"A superstition I remember is something about butterflies being the souls of our dead loved ones who are visiting! Oh, and if a dead relative comes to you in your dreams, they aren't at peace."
6.Taking a Ring Off Someone's Finger
"I was told that you can’t take a ring off of someone’s finger or else you won’t have a good relationship with that person anymore!"
7.Letting Food Cool Before Refrigerating
@apopbf @jessicakuma_ If you put hot food in the fridge it goes bad faster so u have to let it sit outside first! Dunno if that's a Korean thing or not lol
8.Gifting Someone With Shoes
"Also, you can’t give other people shoes because if you do, they’ll walk out of your life with that same pair of shoes! If you do give someone shoes as a gift, have them give you $1 so it technically isn’t a gift."
9.Dropping Cutlery
"My parents always said that if someone dropped a fork on the ground, then you’d have a male visitor come by, and if it’s a spoon, then it would be a female visitor."
10.Asking for Permission From Spirits to Avoid Their Wrath
@apopbf @jessicakuma_ TABI TABI PO NUNO SA PUNSO ("passing through, Nuno"). Still say this out loud when i walk through grassy areas.
What are superstitions that you know and possibly follow? Let us know in the comments below!
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